But the Longhorns sophomore point guard didn’t want his last game in a Texas uniform to be a 65-59 loss to Cincinnati in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He wanted his legacy in Austin to be much more memorable than that and figured he could make that happen with at least one more season as a Longhorn.

Brendan Maloney/US PresswireAs a freshman, Myck Kabongo averaged 9.6 points per game last season for the Longhorns.

“Personally for me I didn’t want to go out without winning,” Kabongo said recently. “This program deserves to win. They’ve done everything possible from a Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four. They just haven’t gotten to that big stage yet. I just think with the big pieces that we have coming back we could do that.”

The Big 12’s head coaches reminded everyone last week of the expectations he brings with him into the season by naming him to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. But if the findings in the NCAA investigation cause him to miss time this season, those expectations could be tempered a bit.

Kabongo, a 2011-12 All-Big 12 honorable mention, started all 34 games last season as a true freshman. A pass-first point guard, he finished fourth in the league in assists per game (5.2), second on the team in steals (38) and third on the team in scoring (9.8 ppg).

He was expected to be the face of a program whose roster features just two seniors (both walk-ons) and no juniors. He is up to 180 pounds after adding 10 pounds of muscle this summer, and said he felt much better about being able to handle the rigors of an NCAA season.

“I thought I could use another year of college to get stronger,” he said. “Talent-wise I think I was ready to go. But physically and mentally it was a good thing for me to come back, get bigger and stronger, and build a bond with my teammates.”

AUSTIN, Texas -- It’s not often the football program is jealous of the basketball program around Texas.

But count summer as one of those times. That’s because a new NCAA rule allows Rick Barnes and his staff two hours per day and up to eight hours a week to work with guys if they are enrolled in summer school. Meanwhile Mack Brown continues to be somewhat in the dark about what goes on with his players’ development in the summer.

“We can't even meet with [players] on football over the summer,” Brown said. “We can talk to them about their personal lives and academics, but not football. Basketball has a better rule. We're pitching to the NCAA. If you are going to pay a guy a scholarship, to me you should be able to ask him to show up and work.”

AUSTIN, Texas -- Matchups against perennial national powers North Carolina, Michigan State, UCLA and Georgetown highlight the 2012-13 University of Texas non-conference basketball schedule released Wednesday. The Longhorns also will make an appearance in the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Longhorns open the 2012-13 season with a home date against Fresno State (Nov. 9), coached by former UT assistant Rodney Terry. Texas hosts Coppin State in the regional round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational (Nov. 12).

The Longhorns then head to Maui for the championship rounds of the EA Sports Maui Invitational (Nov. 19-21). Texas will be joined in the eight-team tourney field by: Butler, Chaminade, Illinois, Marquette, Mississippi State, North Carolina and USC. Matchups for the championship rounds in Maui will be announced at a later date.

UT returns to Austin for a pair of home contests against in-state opponents Sam Houston State (Nov. 27) and Texas-Arlington (Dec. 1). The Horns travel to New York City to play Georgetown (Dec. 4) at historic Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic. Tip time for the UT-Georgetown contest has already been set for 6 p.m. Central (7 p.m. Eastern), and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

Texas then faces UCLA at Reliant Stadium in Houston (Dec. 8) before returning to the Erwin Center for contests against Texas State (Dec. 15) and North Carolina (Dec. 19). Texas registered a 74-72 against No. 11 UNC on Dec. 30, 1995 in the Tar Heels’ only previous matchup against the Longhorns in Austin.

The Longhorns will travel to East Lansing, Mich. to face Michigan State (Dec. 22) at the Breslin Center. Two years ago, UT snapped Michigan State’s 52-game home win streak against non-conference foes with a 67-55 victory (Dec. 22, 2010).

Texas will conclude its non-conference slate with a home game against Rice (Dec. 29).

The Big 12 Conference schedule has not been finalized at this date. UT’s complete television schedule for the 2012-13 season will be announced at a later date.

A Texas recruiting class without a Canadian? Could this be? Coach Rick Barnes went two straight years with elite Canadian prospects, only to see the streak end this year. However, Barnes continues to bring strong talent to Austin. The big catch is the program's enormous commitment from No. 8 overall Cameron Ridley (Fort Worth Texas/Bush). He was the first pledge and is a key element in UT's frontcourt plans. Ridley has battled the best at his position and come out looking strong. Joining Ridley in the frontourt will be ESPNU 100 C Prince Ibeh (Garland, Texas/Naaman Forest), who will have an immediate impact thanks to his shot-blocking prowess. Point guard Javan Felix (New Orleans/St. Augustine) continues UT's pipeline of New Orleans point guards; D.J. Augustin worked out well a few years ago.

Cameron Ridley has finally signed with Texas thus ending the speculation and the angst that has lasted for five months and, oh say, about 13 years around Austin.

Of course, Ridley is only responsible for those five months. That’s how long it has been between the early signing period -- the one in which the 6-foot-10 center from Ft. Bend Bush High just outside Houston declined to sign -- to this. Those other 13 years? Well, that’s how long it has been since Texas had a real-life, back-to-the-basket, drop-stepping, space-eating center in the program.

Davide De PasCameron Ridley will give Texas a big body in the post that should also help the perimeter game.

There were some guys who tried to, shall we say, fill the void. Dexter Pittman maybe best fits that description. But he never averaged more than 5.9 rebounds or 10.4 points and as a senior and only played 19 minutes per game. Connor Atchley, Chris Owens, Jason Klotz were all supposed to be guys who could, on a good day, possibly step in a time or two and be big in the lane.

Class of 2012 shooting guard DeMarcus Holland gave his verbal pledge to the Longhorns during an official visit on Saturday, he’s told HornsNation.

"I'm very excited to be able to be a part of the great future they have down there," Holland said.

Holland, who stands 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, is Texas’ second commitment from Garland (Texas) Naaman Forest. Prince Ibeh, a 6-foot-10 center rated No. 59 in the ESPNU 100, has already signed with the Longhorns.

Texas commit Cameron Ridley (Richmond, Texas/Bush) led all post players with 12 points and added nine rebounds and two blocks Wednesday night at the McDonald’s All-American Game at the United Center in Chicago.